Istanbul CL Final chaos | City Matters statement (p 133)

[City Mike 1969]

Yes very annoying. I spoke to someone yesterday who said “this has happened to a lot of people so we are just taking bank details and the club will sort”

I have no faith that they will so am going to phone back at some point and just pay it off.

They absolutely take fans for granted nowadays.

we're being progressively treated more and more like something Soriano's just trodden in.

What got me about the email I received was the tone of the email I received over something that wasn't my fault. Having spoken to my bank they confirmed that no attempt had been made by the club to collect the D Drs on either of the 2 stated collection dates.

Had I not been able to make payment on the day of the Arsenal game and had my tickets cancelled I'd now be in the unfortunate position of having to take the club to court.

 

[horlock_was_super]

I am over this now. It should never have happened. I was unwell on arriving back in Manchester my ankles had swollen up alarmingly.
Dehydrated to fuck - couldn't get a drink at Istanbul airport due to a fuck up when they checked me in - I was sent back and forth and was in real danger of missing my flight so I didn't dare stop to get a drink as I was safe in the knowledge that I would get one on the plane.
Then I fell asleep pretty much all the way home and missed getting a drink. My fault admittedly.
Had a BIFFO mate tell me at the weekend how outraged he was by the way the dippers had been treated the year before and it was good that City fans had been treated differently!
I put him straight on quite a few things at that point. He was really shocked to hear our experiences and was having none of it until another Blue (who wasn't even at the game!) confirmed what I was saying.

The club do need to say something here though as they are coming across as totally ambivalent to us supporters.

 

[Edghill OG]

You can do both. Communicating with your fans is not equivalent to pissing UEFA off.

No, but the expectancy would be that if City received countless accounts of how shite it was over there they'd have to challenge UEFA over it. Hence there has been a clear reluctance for the club to do anything at all.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I had a similar situation last season... received an email from the club stating they'd 'been unable' to collect the D Drs on the 3 season tickets I pay for - on the day before the Arsenal game at the Etihad.

I didn't see the email til the next morning - when reading it I noticed it stated that if I hadn't made a payment before the match to not bother turning up - all 3 season tickets would be cancelled, all associated loyalty points would be removed and all associated cup schemes would be removed - no payment options or links in the email.

I was livid - the debits should have gone out around the first of the month and hadn't - the D Drs were still in place and funds were available in my payment account - they stated they'd also tried to take the funds on 'or around' the 15th - at which point all the same points remained (funds available D Dr intact) - and this was the first I'd heard about it (yes, I should pay more attention to my bank account - but thats a job I do once a month, at the end of the month).

...2 hours 46 mins in a queue on the phone to make a manual payment was the outcome.

I had that yesterday for my dad. Had an email saying DD mandate blocked by bank and after two hours of holding managed to get through to City.

They couldn't put in the details again because system wouldn't allow them and when I even offered to pay on my own card, the system said suspicious activity.

Absolute bollocks and still none the wiser it will be resolved by the deadline they threatened of the 25th.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Yes very annoying. I spoke to someone yesterday who said “this has happened to a lot of people so we are just taking bank details and the club will sort”

I have no faith that they will so am going to phone back at some point and just pay it off.

They absolutely take fans for granted nowadays.

I couldn't even pay it off yesterday, just to get off the phone to them.

System wouldn't even recognise my own card.

 

[Eccles Blue]

Speaking for myself, I don't. I know that they have been compiling fan's experiences themselves, but the lack of public backing is extremely disappointing - particularly when this seems to be a pretty much cut and dry issue.

One of my recommendations covers this exact point.

Alex, please don't take this the wrong way but if City Matters, through your good offices have compiled a report and, as CM represent the fans, surely you should a) let the fans see the report and b) tell the club that's what you have done/are doing because the fans are important and you need to keep them onside so to speak?
Maybe then the club will speak up?

 

[mexico1970]

This looks like it's taking too long, someone either doesn't care enough to bother or they are tripping over people trying to get it into the long grass.

 

[East Level 2]

No, but the expectancy would be that if City received countless accounts of how shite it was over there they'd have to challenge UEFA over it. Hence there has been a clear reluctance for the club to do anything at all.

Perhaps someone has told UEFA we're really, really naughty boys and UEFA have agreed to ignore that if the club keep quiet about the transport fuck up in Istanbul. Or perhaps the club just don't give a shit.

 

[Edghill OG]

Perhaps someone has told UEFA we're really, really naughty boys and UEFA have agreed to ignore that if the club keep quiet about the transport fuck up in Istanbul. Or perhaps the club just don't give a shit.

Personally think it's a mix of all of the above mate.

We probably have had some colourful accounting in the past (as every club will). Although we agreed to join the ESL I think out of all the clubs we were the most reluctant to do so and we were placed in a no-win situation. If I remember correctly we were the last to join and first to leave? Imagine finally winning the Champions League and the others weren't in it and the shit we'd have got then?!!!

Wouldn't surprise me if some gentleman's agreement has taken place between both parties to keep the peace. Been numerous articles in the press now so it's not like Istanbul isn't common knowledge. No other reason in my eyes to keep completely silent.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Personally think it's a mix of all of the above mate.

We probably have had some colourful accounting in the past (as every club will). Although we agreed to join the ESL I think out of all the clubs we were the most reluctant to and we were placed in a no-win situation. If I remember correctly we were the last to join and first to leave? Imagine finally winning the Champions League and the others weren't in it and the shit we'd have got then?!!!

Wouldn't surprise me if some gentleman's agreement has taken place between both parties to keep the peace. Been numerous articles in the press now so it's not like Istanbul isn't common knowledge. No other reason in my eyes to keep completely silent.

Political reasons? Erdogan wants to show his country can equal other EU nations in hosting big sporting events because that’s his aim, to join the EU. UAE meanwhile want to foster better relations with Turkey and have signed some important bilateral trade deals recently so can’t afford the risk.